Samara Lynn NetprooferNetproofer is a very simple parental control app that lets you block access to devices connected to Cisco Linksys Smart Wi-Fi router. Its problem blocking sites on a machine with Cisco Connect installed and a very basic interface can be forgiven since it only costs a dollar.

Provides quick way to block access to specific websites. Cheap. Works on iOS and Android.

Cons

Did not block sites on computer with Cisco Connect software installed. Can't edit custom entry text. Does not provide more than native parental controls in Cisco Connect.

Bottom Line

Netproofer is a very simple parental control app that lets you block access to devices connected to Cisco Linksys Smart Wi-Fi router. Its problem blocking sites on a machine with Cisco Connect installed and a very basic interface can be forgiven since it only costs a dollar.

Netproofer is one of the first apps specifically created for Linksys Smart Wi-Fi routers. Available as a 99-cent download from the App Store and Google Play, Netproofer gives owners of Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers an easy way to instantly block specific websites on the router's network. The app is part of the Cisco Connect Cloud service, is used to remotely manage a Linksys Smart WiFi router over the internet. Cisco Connect Cloud also provides third-party apps such as Netproofer to extend management capabilities.

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The cloud service is not to be confused with the Cisco Connect software, which is locally-installed software that ships with the routers and is used to initially setup the devices. The app does the job for devices connected to a Linksys Smart router, however there was an issue blocking sites with a computer that has local Cisco Connect software installed.

The app works with Cisco Linksys' EA2700, EA3500, EA4500, and E4200v2 routers. Once downloaded and installed, Cisco Connect Cloud credentials must be entered at the app's login prompt. Netproofer uses Cisco Connect Cloud's service so you can block websites from a mobile device even when you are not connected to your home network.

This very simple app opens up to display a list of commonly accessed websites including Amazon, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and more. Next to each listed app is a button that you can tap on or off to block or grant access to that website. You can also tap an arrow next to each button to choose which devices connected to the router will be blocked from accessing a website.

The interface is extraordinarily user-friendly and intuitive enough for even novice computer users. Access control does not get much simpler than tapping a button. There are no advanced capabilities, so this is not the app for you if you want complex keyword blocking or custom filtering, for instance. For more sophisticated parental control, you will want to check out solutions such as AVG Family Safety or McAfee Family Protection 2.0.

Custom websites can also be added to the block list. The site has to be entered as a partial URL, for example myspace.com instead of just myspace.

One caveat, when you put in a custom entry and make a typing mistake, you can't edit the text. You have to delete the entire entry and then re-type—kind of time-consuming if you are typo-prone.

Netproofer does a good job of blocking access instantly to a site, although the device's browser may need a refresh if the site was just accessed for the restriction to take immediate effect. However, there still seems to be a bug that needs to be worked out because I could not set restrictions on the computer on which I had the Cisco Connect router management software installed.

You also cannot be logged into the app and Cisco Connect Cloud at the same time because they both use the same set of credentials.

Netproofer is not fancy, but if you want to deliver swift blocking to a specific website to a kid who is supposed to be doing his or her homework and not on Youtube, and you have a Cisco Linksys Wi-Fi router, it works—except, inexplicably ,with the computer that happened to have Cisco Connect software on it during testing. Also, it does not provide any more capability than the native parental controls with the Cisco router software. But, it's only a dollar and receives 2.5 stars.

Netproofer

Bottom Line: Netproofer is a very simple parental control app that lets you block access to devices connected to Cisco Linksys Smart Wi-Fi router. Its problem blocking sites on a machine with Cisco Connect installed and a very basic interface can be forgiven since it only costs a dollar.

About the Author

Samara Lynn has nearly twenty years experience in Information Technology; most recently as IT Director at a major New York City healthcare facility. She has a Bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, several technology certifications, and she was a tech editor for the CRN Test Center.
With an extensive, hands-on background in deploying and manag... See Full Bio

Netproofer

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